ly 14 and a half. he doesn't have back problems. you kids have got it too good if you ask me. [ male announcer ] now u-verse high speed internet has more speed options, reliability and ways to connect. rethink possible. complete bay area news coverage starts right now, this is ktvu channel 2 news at 6:00 p.m. >> good evening. i am ken wayne. frank somerville is off. >> i am julie haener. thieves are targeting gift cards. even though police are aware of it you could have had a card that was tampered with. ktvu's matt keller is live to show us how they are getting away with your money. >> reporter: this safeway here is one of two where the gift

cards were found. and deputies say there may be people out there who may not realize they are victims. >> reporter: a small town in the mountains but big time thieves were hoping to profit. sheriff's deputies said workers at this safeway reported someone tampered with gift cards. >> this is a very smart scam. i looked that cards and it was hard to determine. >> reporter: look at this gift card. looks like one you would find in your store. if you look, you can see the bar barcode is not what it seems. >> they photo copy it and place it on the other cards by slipping paper in there and you would never know till you got home. >> the scam puts the money on the thieve's gift cards instead of yours. they found dozens. although no one claimed they

are a victim. investigators say there may be people who may not realize they are sitting on a gift card worth nothing. >> the best way is to look online to see if the amount is on the card. if not, contact your law enforcement agency. >> i looked at it thoroughly. >> it is terrible. to take advantage of people. there are a lot of people hurting. tough times. i think it is awful. >> reporter: i got an e-mail from safeway, if a consumer has an issue call the number on the back of the card or visit the store. matt keller, ktvu channel 2 news. the bay area's first flu death of the season was reported this afternoon in the south bay and there have been four others statewide. ktvu's health and science editor john fowler is live in san jose where officials warn that this potentially deadly flu season is only getting

started. john? >> reporter: that's right. tonight i have been seeing more and more people coughing and keeping their distance. officials say one death, there could be many more. >> typical peak of flu a month away the first flu death. >> a 98-year-old woman that had chronic illnesses. >> reporter: he said she died a week ago. althoughthe state does not report deaths in those over 65. we found a myth keeping some from getting the flu shot. >> i am scared. it gets me sick. >> reporter: but they are swamped with demand and out of flu vaccine. i checked this walgreen's. they had 100 doses right now but would ship what is left tomorrow to other stores that

have run out. it is procrastinators and people seeing a bad flu season back east. >> this is not the typical time but that is what we are seeing. >> reporter: the county will offer two flu shot clinics here in san jose. some doctors and the medical center also have vaccine. this death highlights what is a potentially dangerous but preventible illness. health and science editor john fowler, ktvu channel 2 news. >> more details on the outbreak. california is one of the few states with a low flu rate. a quarter of the country has a moderate outbreak. half fall into a high flu activity range. infants are the most susceptible, the dc "c" tracks -- cdc tracks infant deaths,

this year is 20. www.ktvu.com has a link where officials say they will post information about free flu shot clinics. just click on web links on the home page and finds out when the shots will be available. the school district urged parents and students to be on alert after a student reported being followed. a student was walking to class yesterday and noticed the driver of a white van following him. the van made a u-turn and drove towards him. he says he was followed by the same van after school. a man was wearing a jacket with two white stripes down the arms. san jose police say a mother's story of a man trying to pull her daughter out of her arms is a hoax. ktvu's robert handa is back in

the neighborhood where people arestressing -- expressing a range of emotions. there was a lot of fear and anger in this neighborhood yesterday. today there is relief and anger. the mother talked to us yesterday and told a story that led to this description of a man. we went to her house and this is what she said yesterday. police say it was consistent with what she reported in her 911 call. >> he grabbed my daughter by her feet. we were tugging at each other. her bottoms were falling off, her boots fell off. >> unfortunately when somebody is lying, you know, it dupes all of us and we have to just run with the information we

have. again it is frustrating. it will probably anger some. >> i am really upset with this. >> reporter: your family, are they upset? >> kids are not happy. they go to school. >> reporter: again although police did not disclose the red flags in her story but they did acknowledge she has a criminal history. live in san jose, robert handa, ktvu channel 2 news. we have developing news out of oakland, sheriff's deputies arrested three people after a chase and crash. sheriff's deputies were in pursuit of a white suv. the suv driver lost control and hit three other vehicles. several people were injured but the good news is nobody was sent to the hospital. authorities say three people were in the vehicle and they

all fled. two were found. the reason for the chase has not been released. train hit a pedestrian walking today in oakland. the 65-year-old man was struck and taken to the hospital but authorities haven't released his condition. the man was walking close to had tracks and when the train approach it clipped him. the train was boun for san jose. -- bound for san jose. it caused delays as officials investigated. police are trying to locate a suspect in a robbery. investigators say he is still on the loose. they say he and three others were armed with guns when they robbed a store in may. one of the suspects was shot and killed during the robbery. he is from hayward but police say he may have ties to walnut

creak. the 49ers hit the practice field today as they prepare for sunday against infalcons -- against the falcons. ktvu's christien kafton is live at the team store where fans are gearing up. >> reporter: we have been here since 3:00 p.m. this afternoon. there has been a steady stream of customers. you can see folks lined up now, everybody looking looking to get their gear for the championship game. >> reporter: the 49ers faith fall -- faithful looking to gear up for the game against the falcons. they will be watching the game sunday hoping for a 49er win. >> we will do amazing on sunday. i can't wait. so excited. >> we will have a big day. >> reporter: vernon davis said the game could come down to one

key play. >> just takes one. just takes one. that is what i enjoy, once you get that big catch it is all down hill. fans said a second trip to the playoffs is proof the team is on the right track. >> jim harbaugh is a really -- you know, putting them in the right direction. >> reporter: jim harbaugh said his philosophy is simple. >> do what we have always done. great attitude and get ready for a great football game. >> reporter: the team will travel to atlanta tomorrow. live, christien kafton, ktvu channel 2 news. the only place to watch the game is right here on ktvu channel 2 news 9:30 a.m. sunday morning with our championship play book, followed by fox sports coverage. kickoff at noon and point after

show will immediately follow the game. a group of nudists took their battle against the sit a of san francisco to court today hoping a judge will rule in their favorite. >> they are suing to try to block the nudity ban scheduled to begin next month. he said nudists hurt business. activists argue nudity is free speech. >> before you ban free speech -- [no audio] >> the judge will issue a ruling within two weeks. joining forces to create more negotiating power to buy high speed trains. officials say they will purchase 60 trains over the

next decade. the first segment in california runs from merced to fresno. the government is granting california $674 million to help build an online insurance market place. the program is called cover california. it is designed to help individuals compare and choose the right health plans. it will help the state comply with the headquarter re-- healthcare reform law. we have new develops about goobal play -- google play apps. according to change.org google dropped the apps. they collected 10,000 signatures urging google to stop offering the apps for download. they alter pictures to make the person look a certain ethnicity.

coming up after the break a school fight draws hundreds of students into the streets, what the principal did that is upsetting students. >> this plane is carrying precious cargo for the san francisco giants. the treatment that wasn't for the players. >> relief from the cold, warmer weather returntuse the bay area -- returns to the bay area today. how temperatures will climb over the next few days.

new at 6:00 p.m., four students arrested and now the principal says he will be suspenng more students after a large fight spilled into the street. ktvu's eric rasmussen is live with one of the actions administrators took that ask being called -- that is being called into question. >> reporter: they took cell phones away from students who

were recording video. some say it started with different fights yesterday afternoon. before it was over a couple hundred people filled the streets and police had to step in. >> reporter: a student at berkeley high school recorded this video. the tail end of a near riot. >> windows smashed. people stomped on. >> what started as fight off campus got out of hand. his friend was among four people arrested after police were called to break up the crowd. >> walking and the officer turned him around and he did try to push the officer but the officer was a big guy, pushed his face on to the ground. >> in that situation it never looks good, never is good but, you know, there were steps that had to be taken to keep the

situation safe. >> the principal says the arrests included two students from berkeley high school and  two others. no one was seriously injured. we got to see this view of what happened administrators took cell phones of students who were recording. they want to know why. >> we are off campus. >> the phones that were taken away were taken away from people who were obstructing the first responders. >> reporter: the principal says a letter went home to parents today. despite the incident yesterday disciplines and suspensions are down 30% from last year. live in berkeley, eric rasmussen, ktvu channel 2 news. public health workers investigating a norovirus outbreak. workers took samples this

morning. last thursday a few students reported they were ill, by the next day 100 students were ubsent. that lead to -- absent. that led to a thorough cleaning. he is looking towards the future and wants to leave last year in the past. >> you have to get through the storm to appreciate fair weather. okay? so we are through the storm. okay? and the sun is rising. >> he was appointed last month. he takes over after an investigation discovered the department concealed $34 million due accounting errors. police used initial detective work to figure out -- unusual detective work to figure out who stole from the school. today they found four suspects

by eve dropping. when -- eavesdropping. when officers approached them they asked why they were targeted and one of the officers said hello from one of the walkie-talkies. >> caught with their hands in the cookie jar. let's radio in the forecast. our chief meteorologist bill martin is tracking warmer weather. >> temperatures come up 20 degrees since monday and they will warm still towards the weekend. there is a little bit of patchy coastal fog. see it? look for fog as you travel around. we are looking for temperatures tonight to be cold. like last night and the night before that and the night before that. over night lows will be down there. back into the upper 20s. napa. santa rosa. for the rest of us 30s.

frost and freezing tomorrow morning. be ready for that. over night lows in santa rosa 29 degrees. colder north. 37 oakland. that is chilly for oakland. 37 hayward. it is cold. nice day. and it is friday and the beginning of a holiday. folks thinking about getting out of town, the weather will be outstanding. mountains, stay here, southern california, the weather will be great. valley fog on 99, highway 5. 505. fog in the north bay. black point. napa. santa rosa. valley fog. early morning hours. high pressure stays put. fine for rainfall. we have come way down. every day we don't get rain the numbers dwinder. five-day forecast, no rain. tracking -- numbers dwindle.

five-day forecast, no rain. as you get to the beaches that turns into a 30-foot swell. high surf advisories saturday and sunday. highs tomorrow, warmer. 63 workly. 63 oak -- berkeley. 63 oakland. gilroy 70 degrees. really warm out there. you have to remember monday when it was upper 40s. and we are in the upper 60s by saturday and sunday. five-day forecast with your bay area weekend in view no rain there. no rain. hopefully something will show up later on. >> with the mavericks, waves up to 30 feet high? >> yeah. it will be big. they are coming out of the west. they will hit like this. they are the biggest swells. they love a west swell. >> so fun to watch.

thank you. intel announced a profit loss today. reported profits fell 12% in the 4th quarter. sales fell 3%. intel is expected revenue of $13 billion in the current quarter. coming up on bay area news at 7:00 on tv 36 as bay area flu concerns grow so do prevention efforts. >> one of many tips to keep safe from the flu, how nursing homes are doing that. >> and a struggling airline set for a makeover, the change in the air. join us for these stories and more on bay area news at 7:00 on tv 36. a bearded send off. coming up in 3 minutes, the ride for the world series trophy.

the san francisco giants world series trophy is now on its way to new york city. there it is. traveling in style. giants president boarded a

bearded virgin airline plane this morning at san francisco international airport. a legacy of impressive facial hair. it will be on display over the next three months. fred is in for mark. and 49ers, they seem to be almost ready now and they have to watch out for a former cal grad? >> atlanta has real players on this team. absolutely. the odds makers still like the 49ers chances. making them favorites to beat the falcons but the defense understands atlanta has big time receivers and it starts with former cal tight end. he made this catch last week against seattle. his first post season victory in 16 nfl season. he is the all time leader for touchdowns and receptions by a tight end. he is at the peak of his game. >> i have been around for a

long time. i compared it to when you watch the old kung fu movies and you see the guy with the long beard. the toughest fighter is the old guy that is been around for a long time. i figure i am like that. you see everything. every coverage. >> and once again this is the place to see the championship game. joe fonzi is live at atlanta 9:30 a.m. and point after immediately afterwards. >> three giants players made venezuela roster for the baseball classic. pablo sandoval has to get healthy. his brother tweeted he was hospitalized for clolitis. but the winter league team expects him to be back in the

next day or two. james hahn leads the challenge. he is a 31 rookie on the pga tour. he shot a 9 under 63 today at pga west. finished the first round tied tied for first. yeah, he learned his game here in alameda. how about that? >> a lot of people are proud. thank you. it is a confession everyone has been waiting for, tonight at 10:00 p.m., lance armstrong fesses up to oprah winfrey, why he says he realizes not everyone will be satisfied. >> and thank you for trusting ktvu channel 2 news we are always here for you on www.ktvu.com and mobile ktvu. good night.